“But the stockade?”
“What stockade?”
“Where you found them. The steamer went off early in the night.”
“The steamer went off? Where?”
“Don’t waste time, man, in puzzles,” cried the captain, excitedly, as he felt that something was wrong. “You sent a messenger?”
“I sent no messenger,” said Ali, excitedly.
“Yes, yes; the man with the writing in a bamboo?”
“I sent no man,” said Ali, sadly. “You have been cheated—over-reached by your enemies.”
“But did you not find them?”
“No, I was hemmed-in at every turn; and at last, in despair I have crawled back here, hardly saving my life, your sentries are so keen.”